Yes, it’s that time. Don’t be a baby. Just go to the Doc or pharmacy and get a flu shot. Now is a perfect time so that benefits stay into spring. Hospital privileges require all Docs, but what’s in it for you? If you are immuno -compromised, an overwhelming infection is disaster. (28,000 deaths from flu in 23-24 season) If you are in groups, crowds, traveling or coming in and out of the centers and hospitals, you are exposed- even with a mask on, so please make your team’s job easier. It’s impossible to deliver the care you need and treatments if you are sick on top of having cancer.

Next issue, the covid booster. This Fall, federal health officials dropped universal recommendations, so its up to you and your Doc. Currently most pharmacies have one requirement: that you are over 65, or that you have an underlying health condition over age 6. These include: Cancer, cerebrovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, chronic liver disease, chronic lung disease including asthma and COPD, cystic fibrosis, dementia, heart disease and high blood pressure, hemoglobin blood disorders, HIV, Type 1 and 2 diabetes, disabilities (?), Immuno compromised, mental health disease, obesity, smoking, transplants (solid organ and blood stem cell) TB, substance abuse, pregnancy. (Did we forget anything?) The COVID vaccine can lower the risk of severe illness, reduce hospitalizations and reduce long COVID.

Here is an amazing finding published also last month…University of Florida and MD Anderson found that patients with advanced lung or melanoma cancer who received COVID m-RNA vaccine within 100 days of starting immunotherapy, lived significantly longer than those who did not. This is another major step in producing a universal cancer vaccine, revolutionizing all of cancer care. (Presented at 2025 European Society for Medical Oncology Congress in Berlin.) Trials are coming but real time effects are being seen.

So, talk with your Doc. Plan for at least the flu shot. Find out what other vaccines you need (shingles, pneumovax, etc) and just get it over with. Maybe they will give you a lollipop too.

Pearl: Confusion reigns as black box warning is coming off HRT for menopause symptoms. Find more at Breastcancer.org, “Does HRT increase breast cancer risk?” Here is my opinion: Short term use for severe symptoms. No one with BRCA mutation or with breast cancer should take, all of our therapies are “anti hormones” like tamoxifen, arimedex etc. We stop HRT in all women coming for breast cancer treatment. If you can tolerate the symptoms, especially if you are at risk for breast cancer, I am not recommending HRT. When you stop them, you the go thru menopause again anyway. Talk with you doctor of course. Turn the fan on.